Premature Timing Belt Failure

Hello, I have a 98 Prelude and its belt just snapped @ 61,000 miles.
Suggested replacement is @ 90k. Has anyone seen this before? Silly me did
not get the extended warranty, I didn't plan to keep the car beyond 70k and
now I have to pay. But I'm wanting to see if there is a recall or service
notice on it.

-J

 

Or 72 months (6 years) whichever comes first,

2004
1998

 

Ah, valid point... thanks.

 

dont timing belts on hondas go about 63 k neway?

 

That's what I thought and had an apt. to have it done this Friday (doncha
love it) and then found out it was 90k.

 

I just spoke with the mechanic, he said they know there are bent valves
because of "slack" in the valve.

He was unable to explain this to me, does anyone have a clue what he means?
I can't see how a valve can be slack and spin if it's bent.

-J

 

From what I understand, after the belt breaks, the valves stop moving
fairly quickly. The pistons keep moving and typically bend any valves
that are in their path. Is that what you meant, or something else?

Have you tried calling a dealer or Honda corporate and seeing if they'll
offer any help? From what you've described you don't really seem
negligent to me. Make your case and see if they'll help you out.

Adam

 

==============
Jason,

The slack he's describing is measured where the valve adjustment is
done, with a feeler guage. If the head of the valve gets bent
(sideways), the valve won't sit flush in it's seat (sorta like a bent
garbage can lid won't stay on the can) so the measerement is way out of
tolerance at the other end when he sticks the feeler in the gap.

We considered buying a '97 Odyssey with only 35,000km on it, but
realized it would still need a timing belt right away because of the
AGE, not the mileage.

'curly'

 

NO--

'97, '98, '99 Prelude Service manual states normal/severe conditions
replacement at 105,000mi or 84 months (7 years) for TB, balancer belt and
water pump inspection.

If regularly driven in very high temps over 110F or very cold temps below
minus 20F, then change at 60,000 miles (US) or 100,000 km (Canada).

However, the auto tensioner often fails on '98-'00 ludes (I know first hand
at 64,000mi) and is documented in TSB 01-010 Jan 16, 2001. If the TB was
slapping too long (although it does make quite a racket), it might have
weakened the belt.

J.

 

OIC, when the valve is bent, the valve does not come all the way back and
there is gap between it and the rocker arm, or whatever these OHC motors
have up there.

Cool, thanks everyone...now to fork out the cash. Live and learn, never
factored age into the equation.

 

Oh, nice. Is there anything that can be done about it? Like I said I did
not get the extended warranty, I've never needed it and planned to get rid
of the car..

Since I've started looking at TSB's I've found a ton that the dealer never
did anything about. ie - the rear suspension clunk. I've had it in the
shop 2-3x for that.

 

A TSB is not a recall, its basically just an addendum to the shop manual
with an updated procedure to diagnose and repair a specific problem. I
think people confusing TSBs with repairs that they are entitled to by
warranty or recall is the reason that Honda stopped allowing public access
to TSBs. The dealer will only use a TSB if you bring your car to them with
the specific problem addressed in it.

 

Good thing I stumbled onto this thread. I've had that knocking noise on my
98 for a year now and was thinking of taking it in. Can you or anyone else
who has had this fixed tell me how much you paid? Should I get any other
work done? Thanks

 

Right, and my point was even for the suspension I had it in the shop for
that and nothing was done. I've had the rattle from the engine and they
told me it was a heat shield and not to worry...

 

Before the fact it's 300-500 bucks. Afterwards $1,300 - $2,100 for belts,
pumps and valve job. It gets even pricier if you poke a hole in the piston.

The price range is from a reputible mechanic in the area vs dealer, for what
that's worth...

 

What coolant do you have in it? I've seen Prestone Antifreeze - the
regular stuff in the yellow bottle - do in a Honda water pump in ~20K
miles.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

Of course, there's no guarantee the mechanic who gets your car ever bothered
to read the TSB...